Jane Simpson

Endangered Languages and History – FEL

5 February 201118 September 2009 by Jane Simpson

[Media release from Nicholas Ostler, Foundation for Endangered languages] This year’s conference of the Foundation for Endangered Languages will take place in the High Pamirs, at Khorog in Tajikistan, on 24-26 September 2009. The conference will discuss the contribution of Endangered Languages to History and how the study of history can encourage the preservation and … Read more

Anindilyakwa Number Book – Elizabeth Caldwell

5 February 201117 September 2009 by Jane Simpson

We sold out of the first printing quick as a flash with just local orders, so now we have re-printed and we have plenty to meet international demand (ha!) if the need should arise. The book is simple and aimed mainly at parents or schools who wish to teach young people how to count to … Read more

Indigenous Australian languages in the news

5 February 201116 September 2009 by Jane Simpson

Indigenous Australian languages have been in the news recently. On the positive side, Liza Power has a long piece in The Age, The new songlines which looks at Indigenous languages and music [thanks Myf!], and brings in Nick Evans’ new book Dying Words. It’s in my bag waiting to be read when I get through oh the Mound of marking and stuff…..
Four Corners did a program on the decision to abolish bilingual education in the NT, focussing on Lajamanu, but with some footage at Yirrkala. They’ve also come up with a good set of links and resources, and extended interviews with Djuwalpi Marika (Chairman Yirrkala School Council), Wendy Baarda (former teacher-linguist, Yuendumu) and Gary Barnes, CEO NT Education Department. Barnes’ most quotable quote:

GARY BARNES: We absolutely want our young indigenous people to become proficient in the use of English language… It’s the language of learning, it’s the language of living, and it’s the language of the main culture in Australia.

And a quotable one-worder from the Chief Minister and Minister for Education:

DEBBIE WHITMONT (to Paul Henderson): Is it fair to expect that children who are trying to learn in a second language should meet the same benchmarks at the same time as children in other parts of the country who are learning in their first language?
PAUL HENDERSON: Absolutely.

Bird on redefining computational linguistics – Meladel Mistika

5 February 201111 September 2009 by Jane Simpson

[Meladel Mistika points to Steven Bird‘s new paper in the open access journal Computational Linguistics.] Steven Bird’s promoting for there to be more Comp Ling research to be aimed at assisting field linguists in maintaining and organising their data. He’s redefining what should be included as part of core Comp Ling research. Studies that would … Read more

Ainu, Indigenous Language, and Academic Harassment in Japan – Ryuko Kubota

5 February 201110 September 2009 by Jane Simpson

[An extraordinary and disturbing story about Ainu teaching at the Hokkaido University of Education has emerged in the Times Higher Education Supplement (3/9/09) (thanks Sadami!)].
Ryuko Kubota, Department of Language and Literacy Education, University of British Columbia, writes:

Vernacular education – PNG and Australia

5 February 20118 September 2009 by Jane Simpson

Four Corners is planning a program on bilingual education in the Northern Territory, currently scheduled for 14th September. It’s timely, as there’ve been several news items recently on the topic. Miliwanga Sandy, Jeanie Bell and Jo Caffery did an interview on Bush Telegraph on endangered languages. Peter Buckskin has headed a review into education (reported … Read more

Do-it-themselves recording

5 February 20113 September 2009 by Jane Simpson

Here’s an article [Thanks Nick!] on Steven Bird’s interesting attempt to increase data on an endangered language (Usarufa, Highlands New Guinea) by giving speakers voice recorders, and training them in documenting their language.

Australian Indigenous Rights – UN Special Rapporteur

5 February 201128 August 2009 by Jane Simpson

Professor James Anaya, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, has given his preliminary impressions of the situation in Australia – see today’s Crikey. Most media attention is focussing on his comments about the Northern Territory Emergency Response,

…affirmative measures by the Government to address the extreme disadvantage faced by indigenous peoples and issues of safety for children and women are not only justified, but they are in fact required under Australia’s international human rights obligations. However, any such measure must be devised and carried out with due regard of the rights of indigenous peoples to self-determination and to be free from racial discrimination and indignity.
In this connection, any special measure that infringes on the basic rights of indigenous peoples must be narrowly tailored, proportional, and necessary to achieve the legitimate objectives being pursued. In my view, the Northern Territory Emergency Response is not.

But also important are his comments that any partnership between Government and Indigenous people must be one that is

Don’t Cut Off Our Tongues – Felicity Meakins

5 February 201126 August 2009 by Jane Simpson

[From Felicity Meakins] Hi all, I have just made and ordered new ‘Don’t Cut Off Our Tongues’ postcards. They have been ordered to coincide with a Four Corners documentary on the Lajamanu Two-way language program which will be one of the bilingual programs to be axed soon. This program will air on 14the or maybe … Read more

Australian Indigenous language funding

5 February 20119 August 2009 by Jane Simpson

Two Ministers responsible for different aspects of Indigenous Affairs in Australia, Jenny Macklin and Peter Garrett, have jointly announced $9.3 million of funding for Indigenous languages. The grand aim is to “to help take 113 indigenous languages off the critically endangered list.”
Some good stuff:

“A focused and coordinated national approach is critical to safeguard indigenous culture and save these unique languages.”
Communities will be encouraged to use endangered languages as much as possible and all efforts will be made to pass them on.
… The policy will also encourage the teaching of indigenous languages in schools”

Some bad stuff:

“although it is understood not to alter the course in the Northern Territory, where bilingual education is set to be scrapped in 2010.” (out of date… in several schools, energetic principals and superintendants have already enthusiastically closed down bilingual programs).